62 pages • 2-hour read
A Wrinkle In Time
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How did L’Engle’s blending of science fiction and spiritual themes shape your experience of the story? Have you read other works that combine these elements—e.g., C. S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy?
2. What aspects of the different planets (Uriel, Camazotz, and Ixchel) left the strongest impression on you? How do these contrasting worlds contribute to the overall message of the story?
3. In what ways does the novel’s opening line—a well-trodden cliché—set the tone for the story that follows? Did the atmosphere established in these early scenes carry through the entire novel?
4. A Wrinkle in Time is part of a quintet by L’Engle that also includes works like A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. Have you read any of these other works? If not, are you interested in doing so after reading this novel?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. How does Meg’s journey from self-doubt to embracing her “faults” as strengths resonate with your own experiences?
2. The novel explores the idea that parents cannot fix everything. How does this theme connect to your own process of growing up and gaining independence?
3. Consider the relationship between Charles Wallace and Meg. How does their sibling dynamic compare to your own experiences with family relationships?
4. Have you encountered situations where conformity seemed easier than maintaining individuality? How did you handle this tension?
5. The inhabitants of Ixchel perceive their world without sight. Did this make you reflect on your own reliance on one mode of perception versus other ways of understanding?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.
1. How does the conformist society of Camazotz reflect real-world concerns about totalitarianism and loss of individuality? Where do you see these forces taking hold in the contemporary world?
2. The novel suggests that Earth is partially covered by darkness, representing evil and fear. What gives rise to this evil and fear, according to the novel? Is the same true in real-world societies?
3. How does the book’s treatment of good versus evil compare to how these concepts are presented in current discussions of morality and ethics?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.
1. How does L’Engle use the concept of the tesseract to explore both scientific and spiritual ideas?
2. Analyze the three Mrs. Ws’ different roles in guiding and teaching the children. How do their distinct personalities and approaches complement each other?
3. How does the author use light and darkness as both literal and metaphorical elements throughout the story?
4. Consider the significance of Mrs. Who’s use of quotations. How do these references deepen the novel’s themes and messages?
5. How does L’Engle’s characterization of Meg challenge traditional gender roles in science fiction of the 1960s?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book’s content and themes.=
1. If you could design another planet for the children to visit, what would it be like? How would its characteristics contribute to their journey?
2. Which character would you choose to narrate a companion story to A Wrinkle in Time, and what perspective would they bring to the events?
3. If you could create your own gift to help Meg on her journey, what would it be, and why?
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